How a German Factory's Unusual Drinks Survived War and Time

The scent of Christmas is once again filling homes and streets. But for over a century, Villingen's Bahnhofstraße was redolent of spices and fruit all year round. December's "Archive Treasure of the Month" offers a glimpse into the world of the Adolf Preiser Essence and Spirits Factory through historic advertising signs—where lemons, cinnamon, and vanilla were transformed into the foundations of lemonades and liqueurs.

The Villingen-Schwenningen City Archives preserves not only vital municipal records but also collects materials from other sources to vividly document local history and the spirit of the times—including the corporate legacy of the Adolf Preiser Essence and Spirits Factory.

Historic advertisements, trademark registrations, and recipe documents reveal a culture of innovation and global supply chains. In Preiser's copper stills, only natural ingredients were used. Essences were crafted through maceration and distillation, with fresh-harvested components arriving from around the world: lemons by train from Messina, lavender from France, vanilla from Madagascar, and Ceylon cinnamon from Sri Lanka. These aromatic treasures were stored in wooden barrels in the so-called "drug warehouse," awaiting their turn.

The company's story began in 1906 with fruit juices and cider essences. Two world wars shaped its trajectory: founder Adolf Preiser was conscripted in World War I and died shortly after; in 1939, his son Hermann was also called to military service. An Allied bombing raid on Villingen's train station nearly destroyed the factory on Bahnhofstraße. Yet after 1945, the business made a fresh start, regaining its footing with lemonades and spirits—backed by numerous trademark registrations. Mühlengeist, an extraordinary flambé liqueur created for the Mühlenklause inn in Kappel, became a sensation, even finding fans in northern Germany.

In 1959, Mexi-Kola was registered and quickly became a regional favorite. Winelli was ahead of its time, making alcohol-free wine lemonade socially acceptable, while Römaeus Selekta offered a sparkling, non-alcoholic alternative in champagne flutes, adding fizz to celebrations without the buzz.